<![CDATA[ The image captures the glowing ribbon of the galactic plane, where the vast majority of the Milky Way's stars are concentrated. ]]>
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy that contains our solar system. It is composed of billions of stars, gas, and dust, and is characterized by its distinct spiral structure. The Milky Way is best viewed from dark locations away from city lights.
The galactic plane is the plane in which the majority of a galaxy's mass lies, including stars, gas, and dust. In spiral galaxies like the Milky Way, this plane is where most of the galaxy's star formation occurs.